The Irene Dunn Fred McMurray Show.
Starring Irene Dunn as Susan and Fred McMurray as George.
Together in the gay new exciting comedy adventure Bright Star.
The Irene Dunn Fred McMurray Show.
The gay exciting romantic adventures that take place around the Hillsdale Morning Star.
Yes things are happening at the Star and as usual they concern Irene Dunn and Fred McMurray
as Susan Armstrong and George Harvey respectively.
And it must be exciting because well let's listen.
Extra, extra, read all about it.
George Harvey tells more on Joe Mantelli expose.
Inside story on racetrack racket.
Get your morning star here.
Mantelli blasted his number one raceteer in the state.
Read all about it.
Insert information on Mantelli.
Get your morning star here.
Hemsbury Hemsbury.
There's a press run report Miss Armstrong.
Gee we went up fifteen hundred yesterday.
Yes I know.
That's pretty good huh?
Maybe.
Boy those articles Mr. Harvey's writing on Joe Mantelli are, well they're selling like
hotcakes.
Sammy you want to be a newspaper man yourself some day.
Sure.
Then try to avoid such old cliches as selling like hotcakes.
Gee Miss Armstrong I don't know any new cliches.
All cliches are bad style Sammy.
It's not a good habit to get into.
Okay Miss Armstrong all I want to do is follow in Mr. Harvey's footsteps.
That's another cliche.
Don't you see how trite and old fashioned they sound.
Well maybe you're right.
Well to me it's six of one and a half a dozen of the other.
Gee Miss Armstrong you must be a mind reader.
Well go and ask Mr. Harvey to come in here will you.
Well you see he, well he must have gone down to the press room.
You mean he hasn't come in yet.
Well.
Sammy why do you always try to cover up for Mr. Harvey.
Oh I just hate to see him get fired.
Yes he's a wonderful reporter isn't he.
Oh it isn't that.
He usually owes me anywhere from two to eight bucks and I've got to protect my interest.
Alright Sammy send him in as soon as he gets here.
Yes ma'am.
Good morning you little monster.
See Mr. Harvey I never know whether you really hate me or you're just kidding.
Sammy I'm as puzzled about it as you are.
I admire you as a man but I loathe you as a creditor.
The boss wants to see you right away.
Well that hardly merits such an extremely grave tone.
Two more Mantelli articles and the whole world will want to see me.
Aren't you going to see what she wants.
I might if I feel like it.
And on the other hand I might not.
Then why are you heading straight for her office.
Okay Sammy you've cleared it all up for me.
I hate you.
This is a fine hour to be getting in.
That's what I love about the newspaper game the directness.
No good morning, no how do you feel, no greetings of any kind just bang right out with a complaint.
Good morning.
This is a fine hour to be getting in.
I never win and I've given up hoping to but once in a while I would like a run of respectable second.
Hey what's this? Print run went up fifteen hundred yesterday.
Pretty good.
I wish you wouldn't read the things on my desk.
Okay but you know what's selling those extra pages don't you?
Yes I know your articles on Mantelli.
Well?
George I'm worried about them.
Worried about them?
Here we're setting the town and in fact the whole state right on its ear with facts and figures on the Mantelli mob and you're worried about them.
Yes well that's just it George the facts and the figures are too pat they're too accurate.
You couldn't possibly get this information from anybody except the member of Mantelli's own staff.
So what?
George who's your source of information?
You know I won't tell you that.
Okay then I'm going to have to stop running the article.
Oh now Susan have a heart.
I've got a real chance with that series.
Mantelli's the real big shot of crime in this state and I can prove it.
No I just can't take a chance on running any more of that stuff unless you're willing to prove it's accurate.
That's final?
That's final.
Then I quit.
Waiting for anything?
Why don't you ever believe me when I quit?
I used to every week.
You still won't run the stuff huh?
No not until I'm convinced.
Well then I guess you've got to meet Charlie Collins.
Charlie Collins?
He's my source.
I ran into him one day and well I was sitting at a soda fountain.
George this is supposed to be convincing.
Okay so I was at Clancy sitting in a booth when this little nervous kind of guy sort of eases up to the table.
He sits down opposite me and...
Mr. Harvey?
Yeah?
I'm ready to talk.
Ready to talk?
You are George Harvey of the star aren't you?
Yeah.
Okay I'm ready to talk.
Look my friend I don't feel like talking.
If you don't mind I'd like to be alone.
You don't get it.
I don't mean just talk.
I'm ready to spill.
What have you got to spill?
You've heard of Joe Mantelli haven't you?
Yeah yeah of course.
I work for him.
I'm in the mob.
Oh.
What's the angle?
I want to go straight.
I figure if you do one of them exposes on Mantelli that'll take care of him.
Okay.
Start talking.
Race tracks.
Race tracks?
Race tracks.
That's how I got the dope for the first article.
What does that prove?
Collins could be making the whole thing up.
Sure he could but be reasonable.
Why would he?
I don't know.
He'd be sticking his neck out a mile.
I'd like to meet your Charlie Collins.
Well he certainly won't come here.
Mantelli's smart enough to have this place watched.
Well why don't you bring him out to the house or you come out for dinner and then have him meet you there.
Of all the unreasonable suspicious females I...
Well now is it unreasonable to ask you for dinner?
Okay I'll try to contact Collins and get him out there.
Good.
And thanks for the invitation.
You're welcome.
George.
Yeah?
Why did you want to be alone in Clancy's?
I wanted to think.
Just to think or...or to think of someone?
As a matter of fact I was thinking of someone.
Who?
I was thinking about Richard Harding Davis.
He was a great man and a great reporter.
You know some of that stuff of his is...
What's the matter you're not listening?
See you at dinner George.
I don't get it.
You ask a question I tell you the answer then you're angry.
I'm not angry George.
Just a little hurt.
So that's where Sammy gets those cliches.
Why you...
Susan!
You could kill a man throwing a paperweight like that at him.
George go!
So you got him coming out to dinner again.
Well this is partly business Patience.
Business.
You lay more traps for that man than Daniel Boone on a busy day.
Somehow he always eases out of them.
It's because you fight with him too much.
Did you ever try fainting?
Fainting?
A woman I once used to cook for was trying to catch a certain fella and every time an argument started she'd go into a faint.
Did it work?
No but by the end of an evening she was certainly well rested.
I'll get it.
He's never late when you ask him for dinner is he?
Hello George.
Hi.
Collins will be here any minute.
Collins?
Charlie Collins.
My source on the Mantelli stuff.
That's why I'm out here isn't it?
Oh Charlie Collins!
What other Collins do you know?
Oh George now let's not argue.
I feel a trifle faint.
You faint?
That's a laugh you're as strong as a horse.
Well so much for that.
Huh?
No nothing go and sit down George.
Dinner will be ready soon.
That was an awkward kind of thing to say.
You know about you being as strong as a horse.
I didn't exactly mean it the way it sounded.
It's quite all right.
No no it's just that well I see you around the office all day and I forget what a charming
lovely gal you really are.
Well George what a nice thing to say.
That I see you out here looking like an illustration in one of those slick paper magazines.
Yes.
And I forget what a stubborn quarrelsome dame you can be around the office.
I give up.
Let's fight.
What's the matter now?
I thought I was paying you a compliment.
Oh never mind.
George.
Hmm?
I thought you were just raising that window behind you.
No it's probably Charlie.
He's Foxy never uses the door.
Come on in Charlie.
Right on time.
Charlie this is Miss Armstrong the owner of the paper.
How do you do Mr. Collins?
How do?
Miss Armstrong wanted to talk to you herself because that stuff we've been running is pretty
strong.
Okay.
I wondered why you've been giving Mr. Harvey this information.
Because when the time is right when we've busted up the mob and wiped them out the chief
is going to publish the name of the man who helped him.
The chief?
Well George am I learning for the first time that in your youth you were a papoose?
Well Charlie sort of got me a habit of calling me chief.
It's just an expression.
Yeah.
And I'm number seven.
Number seven.
But there are only two of you.
In an operation like this you always use numbers instead of names.
Oh.
Chief I got news.
Big news.
What's happening Charlie?
Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh.
Chief Joe Mintelli is planning to take over Pittsburgh.
No.
I know the answer to that.
Yes.
Susan please.
Alright I'll be quiet.
Are you sure of that Charlie?
The plans are almost set.
I'll give you the full details as soon as I get them.
Right.
I better be going now.
Mintelli is keeping a close watch on everybody.
Good work Charlie.
Thanks chief.
Oh number seven.
Yeah.
Don't slam the window on the way out.
Okay.
Well what have you got to say now?
George I'm still worried.
Well you asked to meet the man.
I had him come out here.
What more can I do?
Get Mintelli to dictate the story?
No of course not.
But I just hate to run a sensational series on the word of a man like that.
Well you don't get crime material from society people you know.
I know but oh I just wish you'd consider dropping the series.
Drop the series?
That does it.
Oh but now don't quit before dinner.
Patience is cook something that you like.
Very funny.
And goodbye.
George.
Yeah.
Just because Mr. Collins left by the window you don't have to leave by the window.
Oh.
I guess I got excited.
Ah please stay.
I'm asking it as a favor.
Well why is it I can't say so at you?
I wish I knew.
I'd use it more often.
Mrs. Gilhooly prices are terrible.
Oh they are Mrs. Heratty they are.
And where will it end?
Oh I don't know I'm sure.
It is the economic stabilization will do for us all.
Oh good evening Mr. Collins.
Good evening Mrs. Heratty.
Any messages for me?
None tonight.
Thank you.
Good night lady.
Good night.
Good night Mr. Collins.
Ah if only all the other boarders were like him.
He's a pleasant spoken man indeed.
And never a bit of trouble.
Though lately he's been acting odd.
Odd?
Yes.
How?
Oh you know he's always subscribed to every one of them detective story and gangster magazines.
Yes he gives them to me timmy after he's through with them.
Well yesterday morning I was cleaning the hall outside his room and I heard him reading one of them gangster stories out loud.
And then?
Well a little later I heard him telling the same story over again.
With a few changes in it.
Just as if he was practicing telling it to someone else.
Why would the man be doing that?
Do you think he could be planning to turn into a writer maybe?
No why would Mr. Collins want to turn into a writer?
And him with his fine job as head cashier for the transit company these twenty years.
Don't sound very likely.
Just remember this boys.
I'm in.
I'm taking over.
Reach for that Rod Rocky and it's the last move you'll ever make.
Oh thanks preservers what's that?
Oh it's Mr. Collins reading to himself.
The new crime magazine came today.
Will you have another cook Mrs. Gilhooly?
Oh mind if I do Mrs. Hersey?
Now back to our two stars Irene Dunn and Fred McMurray and the second act of our story.
Well it's only natural that all those newspaper stories George has been writing about Big Joe Mentele should have repercussions.
And right now Joe seems to be taking some action.
Hello?
Hello Harcourt.
What's the sense of you having a private wire if you let her ring that long?
Who is it?
Joe Mentele.
You cheesy lawyers get enough money from me every year you should recognize my voice.
Oh good morning Joe.
Did you read the papers?
Did you see what that Harvey had today?
Huh?
Now what you gonna do about it?
What do you want me to do about it?
Sit down on the curb stone and have a nice cry.
You're a lawyer you know what to do.
Ain't a word of truth in what Harvey's writing.
Soon for libel.
If you do that they'll put you on the witness stand Joe.
So they'll put me on the stand.
What of it?
I'm a respectable businessman now.
I'm likely to ask you about those horse wires.
All right.
Horse wires is illegal but they ain't a real crime.
What about the warehouse deal?
How can they ask me about that?
The Texas Center.
Oh dad.
And how about the...
But those are just sidelines.
They can ask about them.
Well all I gotta say is it's a fine state of affairs when a guy like Harvey can print
them things about a respectable businessman and get away with it.
And don't you send me no bill for that kind of advice.
Justice.
When you don't want it they stuff it down your throat.
When you do want it try and get it.
Yeah.
Who?
What?
Send her in.
Mr. Mentally.
Yeah.
So you're Miss Armstrong.
Yes.
I was just getting ready to sue you for libel.
Oh were you?
Well then perhaps it's a good thing I'm here.
You gonna print a retraction?
No I can hardly do that.
Then I'll sue.
Well on the whole I rather doubt that you will.
What makes you think that?
Well if you were going to sue you'd have started already.
Ah I got it all figured out haven't you?
I'm trying to.
Just why'd you come here?
I wanted to make up my mind about something.
The best way to do that seemed to be to come and have a talk with you.
Ah you got your doubts about that stuff Harvey's been writing huh?
Yes I have.
Well there ain't a word of truth in it.
Are you willing to prove that?
Sure.
Well if you do the articles will stop immediately.
Well you can't quite figure out how to go about proving it to you but I could show you the books but anybody can make up a set of books.
Yes that's true.
I guess the best way is if you got the time for you to stick around and watch me conduct my business.
Just what is your business?
Oh investments of different kinds.
Alright as a matter of fact while I'm here I might do a straight article on you myself.
It might make up for the others we ran.
Hey that's a good idea.
You're a pretty smart little lady.
Thank you.
You know with someone like you to tell me the right forks to use and stuff like that there's no telling where I might wind up.
First ex mobster ever to become president.
It's not so impossible.
He's called the chief executive Andy.
So what's an executive?
A fellow who people does what he tells them.
Well people do what I tell them.
Hey Mr. Harvey how about letting me have a little on account.
Out of my way junior.
Well gee what are you so sore about.
Hello George.
Why isn't my Mantelli article in today's paper.
No George don't get angry.
I'm not getting angry I am angry.
Why wasn't my stuff in.
Because I told them to hold it.
You told them to hold it.
Why.
Well we just might be on the wrong track.
I thought we'd settle that last night.
Listen I went to see Mr. Mantelli this morning.
You went to see him.
Yes and as nearly as I can tell he's conducting a legitimate business.
Ah women.
George now I know it's a disappointment to you but we've got to be more certain of our ground before we go on with this series.
That's a woman every time.
You go to see him he flashes you a big smile pays you a couple of phony compliments and you're ready to believe anything.
All right I started to do a straight article on Mantelli but he's leaving for Mexico on business.
He invited me to go along all expenses paid.
I said I couldn't.
Very nice offer though.
Mr. Mantelli said he can tell the difference between a dame what's a lady and a dame what's a dame.
How do you make out.
I'm going and I'm going to do a whole series on him.
Oh Susan you can't be seen around with a man like that.
Can't I just.
You watch me.
I got some big news for you.
And I've got some big news for you.
Miss Armstrong went to see Mantelli this morning.
How come you didn't know about it.
She went to see Mantelli.
Yes.
Why didn't you know it.
Why I knew it as soon as I soon as I heard of it I figured I'd better stay out of the way.
Why should you have one flicker of recognition we both have been rubbed out.
Well you've got a point there.
But listen chief this new angle it's about the dance halls that have.
Never mind a new angle and don't call me chief.
Oh gee.
He's got to convince that he's legit.
She's even going to cover a business trip of his.
And we just got to prove to her that he's still in the rackets.
Yeah but how.
The way you prove a crook is a crook is to frame him everybody knows that.
Oh Charlie don't try to be funny.
I'm not.
Where's he going.
Mexico.
Well look suppose he was going to smuggle back a load of diamonds.
Suppose he was going to smuggle them back in a secret compartment in her bag.
Oh great.
All we have to do is get Mantelli to put a secret compartment in her suitcase and.
Oh you mean we do it.
Right.
Might work at that.
Let's see maybe we could get patients to help us.
Do you think she would.
She might if I eat enough lemon pie.
Patience is one of the best cooks in the world but the one thing she's proudest of is our lemon pies.
And they're terrible.
Maybe you better see her alone.
Oh no you don't little man.
We're in this together.
Well it seems kind of crazy to me.
But at this Joe Mantelli is what you say he is.
I guess I'd better help you keep Miss Susan home.
You're sure you've got this straight now Patience.
Tomorrow morning you send her bag over to his place.
If she asks you about it tell her he sent for it.
Why would he do that.
Well to make sure it would get to the airport in time.
Well okay.
Well say Patience this is mighty tasty pie.
It sure is.
If there's anything I love it's a good piece of custard pie.
It's lemon.
Yeah that's what I meant to say lemon.
Well we'll take the suitcase fix it up and get it back to you this afternoon in time for you to pack it.
All right.
We'll be back at four.
Good.
And by the way just in case you think I'm doing this because you praised my pie it was custard.
How much time we got.
Twelve minutes.
Where's the dame.
Don't worry.
Classy little lady like that never stands anybody up.
Look see what they tell you.
Hello Mr. Mentally afraid I'd miss the plane.
Not me.
That was a little nervous.
This is Dutch Kraus Miss Armstrong.
That's just kind of a system of mine.
How do you do Mr. Kraus.
Likewise.
We can go on board the plane now if you want to.
Well I'd rather wait here a few more minutes.
Expecting anybody to see you off.
No I guess not.
Okay with me.
It's as easy waiting here as anyplace else.
Thank you.
That's you better get the baggage weight in put on the plane right.
I want to take a look at those bags.
Who's this guy.
I'm George Harvey.
So you're the guy who's been riding that stuff.
Mentally Miss Armstrong isn't getting on that plane.
I don't know that you've got anything to say about it bud.
It's up to the little lady.
Susan this guy is exactly what he always has been.
Well now if this is some more information from your precious number seven I'm not interested.
He's even planning to use you and I can prove it.
Well that's kind of interesting.
Just how are you going to do that.
He may have told you he's going to Mexico on business.
But you know what that business is.
It's diamond smuggling.
People certainly know things about me that I never heard of myself.
And he's planning to use you Susan.
Look.
Hey what are you doing with that bag.
You keep out of this.
There look at this.
A false bottom in the suitcase.
That's where the stones were going to be brought back and if anything went wrong you'd be the one to be caught.
Mr. Mentele how about this.
Listen little lady.
I never argue.
If you want to believe that you go ahead and believe it.
It's right here for the sea isn't it.
Buster I said I don't argue.
The way I happen to feel about you if I ever got started I couldn't stop.
Well any time you're ready let me know.
I will.
Well Susan.
No explanation Mr. Mentele.
None.
That's that then.
Well you'd better take me home George.
Tough luck Joe.
Some you win some you lose.
I wonder how that secret compartment got there.
That beats me.
I wasn't planning to smuggle no diamonds in her suitcase.
I was going to use her hat box.
Well the modern age is certainly honest if you got to Mexico and back in that time.
She didn't leave.
Gee Chief you got her.
That's great.
They can't beat old Charlie Collins.
Oh you think so do you.
Pittsburgh.
Huh.
Pittsburgh.
Slot machines.
Race wires.
What are you talking about Susan.
It's all here George.
Latest issue of Action Gangster magazine.
Old Charlie Collins has been reading these stories and telling them back to you.
Young Mr. Harvey.
He's been.
Charlie.
Charlie is that what you've been doing.
Chief I.
And the issue before this had the story you gave us on crooked roulette.
Chief.
I.
There's no use.
I did it.
Well I guess this is goodbye Chief.
Charlie.
How could you do a thing like that to me.
I don't know.
I guess it's just that danger attracts me.
Boy when we'd sit there and figure what mentality was going to do next.
And how we'd expose him.
Oh that was real thrilling Chief.
Good grief.
And you can stop calling me Chief.
Well Chief.
I'll be going.
Miss Armstrong.
Can I ask one last favor.
What is it.
This is the last time I'll be here.
So do you mind if I leave by the window.
Okay number seven.
Thanks.
Our stars Irene Dunn and Fred McMurray will be back in a moment.
Susan there's something I've been wondering about how did you happen to find out about Charlie.
You don't normally read things like action gangster magazine.
No but I ran across this whole stack of them the day I went to Mantelli's office.
Oh I don't get it.
They were in his desk drawer right next to his gun.
Why would Mantelli read things like this.
I don't know I guess it reminds him of home.
Don't touch that issue George and I go off.
You mean you took the gun too.
Well of course George.
Why.
Because it seemed that sensible thing to do.
Irene Dunn and Fred McMurray will be back next week in another exciting comedy adventure in the gay new series Bright Star.
This is Harry Bonzel inviting you to join us then.
Thank you.